Agitator



- tank containinga quantity charge ends of the Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLAND E. MINOGUE, OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HENRY VANDERWERP, 0F MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN.

AGITA'I'OR.

Application filed September 28, 19 25. Serial No. 59,100.

This invention relates to agitators and relates particularly to. agitators for mining slurry in the manufacture. of cement, and other liquid or semi-liquid products, n which agitation is effected in whole or 1n part by compressed air discharged into a of the material to be agitated.

Inaecordance with the present practice of agitation by n eansof compressed air, the: air

isdischarg d into the tank. by means of s ationary pipes which communicate with a source of. supply of air under, pressure, tl'ie discharge ends of which extend 'into desired proximity to the bottom of the tank. in which the material to be agitated is contained and which are controlled by manually operated valves, which are opened at intervals to discharge air under. pressure into said material, said air, rising through the. material, operating to agitate and mix the same.

This method of agitation is more or less haphazard and in the manufacture of cement, is objectionable for the reason that, excepting in immediate proximity to the. disof solid material gradually accumulates in the bottom of the tank, which has to: be 're-' moved from time to time, necessitates closing down the tank. and also involves considerable expensefor time and labor;

The object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing objectionable features, byproviding an agitator in whichagitation 1s effected primarily. by compressed 7 air, constructed and arranged to discharge air into a tank. equipped with my improved agitator at predetermined intervals, substantially uniformly over the entire area of the bottom of the tank. i

To effectthe objects of the invention, an agitator embodying my. invention andEimprovements comprises the various features, combinations of. features and details of construction hereinafter described and. claimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which my invention is fully illustrated,

Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation, showing thesame installed for usein a. suitable tank. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, substantially similar to. Fig. 1, the tank and certain other parts beingomitted.

Figuresfi, 4, 5 and 6 are sectionalplan;

air supply pipes, a deposit 7 views on the lines 3 3, 14c, 5-51 andG-(S, res e v y, of Fisnd igure 7 is a fragmentary. sectional elevation on the line. 7'( of Fig. 2.

er P rpose of l r n defin e ust a o I h ve. n h ra n hawnee ita r emb y n my n ent on improvements as applied use to a tank de- Signed nd ap e for cont n g sl lrry o be us d. in th v a ufac ureq men Describing the invention with particular efer m t he d-raW ng1 .A' de i s eie ank esisne' o a n s y, hich may be one of a series of tanks from which "the slurry is" withdrawn in succession and delivered to the kilns, not shown;

Mounted within the'tank A is an agitator e d n y inv ti nd prevel ent designated as a whole B, which, in the prefer e. con t c io show comprise @1 low shaft 1, rotatably mounted in suitable bearings supported on I'-beams 2 which extend across the tank A and theends ofwhich v are supported by the said walls thereof; Se-

cured to the lower end ofthe shaft is an agitator bar 3 consisting, as shown, of a channel bar disposed with its channeled side up. As shown, said agitator bar 3 is'secureddirectly to a metal; block l the lower barat opposite sides of its center with lugs 7 on the shaft 1. In practice, said agitator bar is usually positioned two or three feet above the bottom of; the tank, but this distance may be varied as desired.

The shaft 1 is rotatably mounted in a bearingformed ina bearing block 8' which is supported on I beams 9 connected to and I which connect the I-beams 2.

As shown, the bearing for mounting. the

shaft 1 is a familiar form of thrust bearing constructed and arranged to carry the weight of the shaftfl, agitator bar angles sociated parts, consisting of a bearing sleeve 10, pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper end of the shaft 1, formed in whiclnadjacent to its lower end, are grooves 11 adapted to receive bearing rings 1.2, preferably made of suitable bearing metal, said bearing rings 12 being confined in an opening 13 in the upper end of the bearing block 8, and transmitting the weight of the shaft 1 and parts supported thereby, to the thrust surface 14 at the bottom of the opening 13. To provide for assembling the bearing, the rings 12 are split.

Preferably, also, the hearings for the shaft 1 comprise steady bearings adapted to maintain said shaft in fixed axial alignment. As shown, there are two steady bearings, designated, respectively, 15, 15. The bearing 15 is formed in a bearing block 16 secured to the undersides of the Ibeams 9, access of slurry or other gritty material con tained in the tank A, to the bearing 15, being prevented by a mud-guard 17 secured to the shaft 1, which closes the lower end of said bearing. The lower end of the bearing block 16 and the opposed surface of the mudguard 17 form an upward thrust hearing which will prevent lifting of the agitator shaft 1.

The steaoy bearing 15 consists of a hearing block 18 secured to the bottom of the tank A provided with ajournal bearing 19, fittedto which is a journal 20 formed on a journal block 21 secured to the block 4 on the lower end of the agitator shaft 1. A

.dependingflange or skirt 22 is formed on the ournal block 21 and, when the bearlng is assembled, is adapted to surround the portion of the block 18 in which the journal bearing 19 is formed. With this construction, it is obvious that, when slurry or other liquid or semi-liquid substance is admitted to the tank A and the level thereof rises above the lower edge of the depending flange or skirt 22, air will be trapped in the space within said depending flange or skirt, which will effectually prevent access of mater1al contained in the tank to the journal bearing 19.

In operation, rotation is adapted to be imparted to the agitator by suitable means consisting, as shown, of bcvel gears 23 and 24 secured to the upper end of the agitator shaft 1 and to a driven shaft 25.

In accordance with my invention, air under pressure is adapted to be discharged into the tank A from pipes 26, 27. 28 and 22 supported on the agitator bar, the inner ends of which conn nunicate with air chan- V nels 26', 27, 28 and 20 formed in the block nels 37, 38, 39 and 40, see Figure ,vos

and rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation. of the agitator bar in operation, the ends of said pipes forming nozzles from which air under pressure is discharged into the tank A. lVit-h the described construe pipe 30 adapted to communicate with a source of air under pressure, not shown, thru pipes 31, 32, 33 and 34 supported within the agitator shaft 1, the lower ends of which communicate with the channels 26, 27, 28 and 29' in the block 4, and the upper ends of which communicate with air channels 31,

32', 33' and 34, respectively, formed in the bevel gear 23 secured to the upper end of the agitator shaft 1. q

In what I now consider the preferable eni bodiment of my invention, the admission of air under aressure from thesupply pipe 30 to the pipes31, 32, 33 and 34 is controlled by a distributing valve constructed and arranged to admit air to said pipes, respectively, one at a time and during any desired interval usually during one entire revolution of the agitator. I \Vhat I now consider preferable'meansfor this purpose areas follows: Secured to the gear 23 so as to rotate therewith is a valve casing 35, whichis provided with a valve seat 36, and formed inwhich are air cl1an I i, the lower ends of .which, respectively, are in open communication with and which form extensions of the air channels 31, 32, and

34 formed in the bevelgear 23, and the upper ends of which open into the valve'seat 36. Seated in said valve seat 36 so as to rotate therein, is a valve member 41, formed in a side of which is a recess 42, which is adapted to be brought successivelyinto communi' cation with the air channels 37 to 40, by ro tation ofsaid recessed valve member. As shown, said recessed valve member comprises a valve stem 43, the upper end of which fitted to turn in a bearing'formed in a fixed housing 44. provided with a cavity or chamber into which the end of the valve stem 43 extends, said valve stem being hollow, thus providing an air channel 45, which connectsthe chamber or cavity 45 with the recess 42 in the valve member 41. The air supply pipe 30 is also connected into an opening in the housing 44, which communicates with the cavity or chamber 45. K

In operation, rotation is adapted to be measles imparted: to the recessed valve. member 41,

convenient means forzthis. purpose. consisting of bevel gears. 46and 47'; secured, respectively, to valve stem 43 and to a shaft, 48, having driving connection with the shaft 25, consisting, as shown, of a chain belt 49 adjusted t0 sprocket wheels and51, secured to said shafts, respectively.

WVith the described, construction, it is obvious that rotation ofsaid recessed member 41 will bring the recess 42 therein successively intocommunication with the air channels 37 to. 40. Said air channels are preferably spaced equal distances apart, and the=dimension of the recess 42. circnmfen entially ofthe valve member 41 and the relative'rates of rotation of the. agitator and of said' recessed. valve; member are such. that said: recess 42,will be separately in communicationwithv each. of the air channels 37m 40 duringsubstantially a full revolution of the agitator. With four distributingpipes 26 to 29; .and corresponding, air channels 31 to 34 andt37'to 40- in the gear 25 and valve casing: 35, respectively, spaced equal distances apart circumferentially of the valve se-at36, If. attain this end by means of a recess 42. defined'oby a, sector of the valve member. 41 ofapproximately ninety degrees and a rate of rotation of the valve member 41 to the agitator Av of approximately one and onequarter (1%) to one (1).

My invention contemplates that the agitator shall run continuously, thus overcoming the objection of hit or miss agitation by means of air pipes controlled by manually operated valves. To provide pro-per agitation, it isusually not necessary that air under pressure be supplied to the distributing pipes continuously during the operation of the agitator. In accordance'with my invention, therefore, I preferably provide a valve for controlling the air supply pipe and means'for operating; the same, whereby said I valve will be opened at and for predetermined intervals, a desirable relation for mixing slurry being such that said control valve will be open during approximately 4 in each 20- revolutions of the agitator; or.

stated differently, air will be admitted to each of the pipes, 26 to 29, respectively, during one ineach agitator.

In the preferable construction shown, I attain this end by means as follows: Gonnee-ted into the air supply fifth of the circumference, of a; circle of,

which said cam forms an arc. Rotation is valve twenty revolutions of the.

discharge nozzle only.

pipe30 is a slide. valve 52, the movable member 53 ofjwhich is maintained yieldinglyinposition to close the valve-by a spring 54 applied. to the valvev stem '55. and which is adapted to be moved endWise to open said valve by means of a. circular cam 56 secured to a shaft 57, the.

to. engage the teeth to a rodv 60 mounted,

of a cam 65 on the sleeve 10 of the thrust bearing of theagitator shaft; As shown,

theur-atchet wheel 58 contains twenty (20) teeth. and the height of thecam '65 is proportioned to; advance the rod a distancecorsponseewa feed, of one tooth,

Preferably, also, my improved, agitator comprises lifting teeth on the agitator bar;- 3, which project frontwards from, said bar in the direction of rotation, the upperisurfaces of which are downwardly and front- Wardl-y inclined.

Obviously, 'my improved agitator admits? of a wide range of modification'as regards detailsof construction and operation within the principle and scope of my' invention, and I do-not, therefore, desire to'limit myself "to the particular construction shown, nor to any'particular construction, as. in view of my disclosure, skilled mechanicscan readily make necessary changes and alterations therein to adapt it for use under different conditions. and for agitating differentv materials Y claim 1. Inanagitator, the combination of a. rotatable shafhineans for rotating. said shaft, an, agitator bar secured to said. shaft, a source; of supply of air under pressure, meansdefining channels adapted to commuicatejwith saidsource of air supply comprising pipes the discharge ends of which, respectively, are positioned on the agitator barat different distances from thea-Xis of the agitator shaft, and means for controlling. the. admission of air from said source of air supply to said distributing channels operatingto admit air thereto during predetermined spaced intervals of time;

2. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which each air pipe is provided with one 3. An agitator. as specified in claim 1, in which the: discharge nozzles of the pipes supported on the agitator bar are positioned at diiferentwdistances from the axis of the agitator shaft, the, relation being such that, in operation, said nozzles, respectively, will describe circles spaced substantially equal distance apart, and said nozzles comprising anozzle positioned adjacent to theagitator shaft and another adjacentto an outer end of the agitator bar.

4. An agitator as specified in claim 1, which also comprises teeth on the agitator bar, the top sides of which are forwardly and downwardly inclined.

5. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which the means for controlling the admission of air from the air supply pipe to the channels in the agitator shaft comprises a valve which controls said pipe, and means for operating said valve, the relation being such that said valveiwill be open for predetermined periods'only during operation of the agitator.

6. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which the means for controlling the admission of air from the air supply pipe to the channels in the agitator shaft comprises a valve which controls said pipe, and means controlled by rotation of the agitator shaft for operating said valve, the relation being such that said valve will be open for predetermined periods only during operation of the agitator.

7. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which the means for controlling the admission of air from the air supply pipe to the channels in the agitator shaft comprises a valve which controls said pipe, and means for o aeratin said valve constructed and ar ranged for maintaining it open for predetermined periods only during the operation of the agitator, sald means comprising a cam on the agitator shaft, a rotatable ratchetwheel, a rod mounted so as to be movable endwise, an end of which projects into the path of said cam, a spring applied to said rod for retracting the same, a pawl mounted on said rod adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel, and operating connection between said ratchet wheel and valve.

8. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which the means for controlling the admission of air from the air supply pipe to. the channels in the agitator shaft comprises a valve which controls said pipe, means for maintaining said valve yieldingly closed, and means for opening said valve comprising a cam shaft, a cam thereon, a stem on said control valve a part of which projects into the path of said cam and means for rotating said cam shaft, the length of said cam correspending to the period of time said valve remains open.

9, in agitator as specified in. claim 1, in which the means for controlling the admission of air from the air supply pipe to the cl'iaiinels in the agitator shaft comprises a valve which controls said pipe, means for maintaining said valve yieldingly closed, and

n'icans for opening said valve comprising a camshaft, a camthereon, a stem on said control valve a part of Which projects into the path of said cam and means for rotating said cam shaft, the length of said cam correspending to the period of time said valve remains open, the means for rotating said cam comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating rod, a pawl pivoted to said rod adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a cam on the agitator shaft adapted to advance said rod and pawl and yielding means for retracting said rod and pawl.

10. In an agitator, the combination of a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator bar secured to said shaft, a source of supply of air under pres sure, means defining channels adapted to communicate with said source of air supply comprising pipes the discharge ends of which, respectively, are positioned on the agitator bar at different distances from the axis of the agitator shaft, means for controlling the admission of air fromsaid source of air supply to said distributing channels operating to admit air thereto during predetermined spaced intervals of time, and a distributing valve comprising a casing secured to the agitator provided with a valve seat and with air channels which communicate with the distributing air channels and which open into the valve seat in said casing, and'a valve member rotatably seated in said casing provided with a recess adapted to be brought'into communication-with the air channels in the valve casing by relative rotation of saidvalve casingand said recessed valve member, said recessed valve nember also being provided with an air channel which connects the recess therein with the air supply pipe;

11. An agitator as specified in claim 10, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the circumferential dimension of said recess and the relative rates of rotation of said recessed valve member and agitator being such that the recess in said valve member will communicate with the different air channels in vthe casing of said distributing valve during predetermined intervals.

12. An agitator as specified in claim 10, which comprises means forrotating said recessed valve member, the circumferential dimension of said recess and the relative rates of rotation of said recessed valve mem her and agitator being such that the recess in said recessed valve member will be in continuous communication with each of the air channels in the valve casing during substantially a full revolution of the agitator.

13. An agitator specified in claim 10, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the different air channels in the casing of said distributing valve being arranged equal distances apart, and the circumferential dimension of the recess in said recessed valve member and the rela tive rates of rotation of said valve member and agitator being such that said recess will be in communication with the different air channels, respectively, during substantially a full revolution of the agitator.

14. An agitator as specified in claim 10, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the different air channels in the casing of said distributing valve being arranged equal distances apart, and the circumferential dimension of the recess in said recessed valve member and the relative rates of rotation of said valve member and agitator being such that said recess will be separately in communication with the different air channels during substantially a full revolution of the agitator.

15. In an agitator, the combination of a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator bar secured to said shaft,

"= a source of supply of air under pressure,

means defining channels adapted to communicate with said source of air supply comprising pipes the discharge ends of which, respectivel are positioned on the agitator bar at di erent distances from the axis of the agitator shaft, and means for controlling the admission of air under pressure to said channels comprising a distributing valve comprising a casing secured to rotate with the agitator provided with a valve seat and with air channels which communicate with the air distributing channels on the agitator and which open into the valve seat of said valve casing, and-a valve member rotatably seated in said casing provided with a recess adapted to be brought into communication with the air channels in the valve casing, said recessed valve member also being provided with an air channel which connects the recessed valve member with the source of air supply.

16. An agitator as specified in claim 15, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the circumferential dimension of said recess and the relative rates of rotation of said recessed valve member and agitator being such that the recess in said valve member will communicate with different air channels in the casing of said distributing valve during predetermined intervals.

17 An agitator as specified in claim 15, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the circumferential dimension of said recess and the relative rates of rotation of said recessed valve member and agitator being such that the recess in said recessed valve member will be in continuous communication with each of the air channels in the valve casing during substan-v tially a full revolution of the agitator.

18. An agitator as specified in claim 15, which comprises means for rotating said recessed valve member, the different air channels in the casing of the distributing valve being arranged equal distances apart, and,

the circumferential dimension of the recess in said recessed valve member and the relathe circumferential dimension of the recess in said recessed valve member and the relative rates of rotation of said valve member and agitator being such that said recess will be separately in communication with the different air channels during substantially a full revolution of the agitator.

20. In an agitator, the combination of a rotatable shaft provided with a plurality of air channels, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator bar secured to said shaft, pipes supported on said agitator bar which communicate, respectively, with different air channels in the agitator shaft and are provided with discharge nozzles arranged, respectively, at different distances from the axis of the agitator shaft, a pipe for connecting the channels in said agitator shaft with a source of supply of air under pressure, and means for controlling the admis sion of air under pressure to said channels operating to admit air thereto during predetermined spaced intervals of time.

21. An agitator as specified in claim 20, in which the agitator shaft is hollow and the air channels therein are formed by pipes supported inside thereof.

22. An agitator as specified in claim 20, in which the agitator shaft is hollow and the air channels therein are formed by pipes supported. inside thereof, and a fitting is secured in the lower end of the agitator shaft to which the agitator bar is secured and which is provided with air channels with which the pipes supported in said agitator shaft and on the agitator bar communicate.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature this 15th day of September, 1925.

' ROLAND E. MINOGUE. 

